Walter J. Devine

DEVINE, Walter J., of Massapequa, NY, formerly of Fresh Meadows, NY at home on August 29, 2018 at the age of 89.  Beloved husband of the late Mildred.  Loving father to Jeanne of Mt. Kisco, NY; Bob (Robin) of Endwell, NY; Steve (Deb) of Rockaway, NY; Mike (Sonya) of Oakton, VA and Lorri Geerinck (Rich) of Beachwood, NJ.  Adoring grandfather of thirteen grandchildren.  Cherished companion of Grace Campo of Garden City, NY.  Dear friend of Irene Shea of Massapequa, NY.  Fond uncle of many nieces and nephews.  Treasured son of the late Timothy J. and Mary Irene (nee Flynn) Devine.  Loving brother of the late John Edwin, the late Ullaine Reynolds and the late Dolores.

Walter was born on January 1, 1929 in Stratford, CT and was one of four children of Timothy and Mary Irene Devine.  He was raised in Worcester, MA and then moved to Jamaica Estates, NY.  Walt, as he was known, graduated from Jamaica High School in 1947 and attended college at St. John’s University, earning a degree in Accounting.  He worked for Price Waterhouse while continuing his studies at St. John’s Law School. 

On October 9, 1954, Walter married Mildred Linneman at Holy Family Church in Flushing, NY.  Walt entered the United States Army and served for one and a half years where he received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged.  Walt and Millie had five children in in eight years.  He had a long career in Corporate Law specializing in International Tax Law and Finance, and was CFO of CCS.  Walt and Millie were together until her death on May 8, 1999.

Walt was caring man with a big heart and always helped others in need.  He was always eager to give advice, believed in hard work, had high standards and did not suffer fools well.  He believed in family and was proudest of his kids.  His greatest accomplishment was building a good, strong family with Millie.  Walt had hobbies such as country line dancing; swimming; golfing; boating; and surfing.  He enjoyed home repairs; building things; eating ice cream; and spending time with his family.  He absolutely loved his backyard birds with their songs, and he fed them religiously.

Reposing at Donohue Cecere Funeral Home, 290 Post Ave., Westbury, NY 11590 on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, from 2:00 - 4:00 PM & 7:00 - 9:00 PM.  Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at St. Brigid’s RC Church, 50 Post Ave., Westbury, NY at 11:00 AM.  Interment following in Holy Rood Cemetery, Westbury, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Walter’s memory to the charity of your choice, or to where Walter regularly donated, which was Calvary Hospital @www.calvaryhospital.org and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center @ www.mskcc.org.  Also suggested are the Cancer Research Institute, Lymphoma Research Foundation and American Heart Association.

“Life is eternal, love is immortal and death is only a horizon.  And what is a horizon? Just the limit of our sight.”

GONE FROM MY SIGHT

By Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, 'There, she is gone'

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me - not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, 'There, she is gone,'
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, 'Here she comes!'

And that is dying...

 

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